Exothermic glove insert

ABSTRACT

An exothermic glove insert for warming fingertips. The thermal inserts are very thin, ergonomically designed heat packs for use on each individual finger or thumb. The inserts have a non-permeable membrane heat pack cover that allows specifically placed pin holes to produce heat according to a desired profile exactly where it needs to be provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/269,160, filed Dec. 18, 2015, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hand warmers, and more particularly toexothermic hand warmers applied to gloves, mittens, or other hand wear.

Existing exothermic warming products heat just the hand or heat ininstances when used with mittens may heat the fingers together. Existingexothermic warming products are too bulky to be practical. Consequently,the user's fingers are not heated in a manner that allows the userindividual finger dexterity.

As can be seen, there is a need for providing a thin, ergonomicallydesigned heat packs to provide warmth for each individual finger and/orthumb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a thermal insert for a glove,includes a sealed pouch formed of a non-permeable layer of materialdefining a cavity therein. The pouch may have a notch formed at an enddistal from a rounded tip portion. An exothermic composition iscontained within the cavity and a plurality of spaced apart holes aredefined in the non-permeable layer. The exothermic composition mayinclude a mixture of iron, millorganite, charcoal, salt and water.Preferably, the thermal insert is configured to conform to a posteriorportion of a user's finger. In certain preferred embodiments, an apex ofthe notch is defined at a point that is distal to a second knuckle ofthe user's finger. The thermal insert has a width permitting the thermalinsert to conform to an upper lateral portion of the user's finger. Thenon-permeable layer may be formed from a metalized polyethyleneterephthalate film.

In other aspects of the invention, the thermal insert may also include aglove insert having a plurality of finger portions; and the thermalinsert is applied to a posterior portion of one or more of the pluralityof finger portions. The thermal insert may be applied with an adhesive.The thermal may also include an envelope formed of an air impermeablematerial and dimensioned to receive the glove insert. The envelope maybe provided with a sealing closure operable to selectively open andclose the envelope in a sealing engagement. In certain embodiments, aremovable sealing film covers the plurality of spaced apart holes.

In other aspects of the invention an exothermic insert is configured tobe received in a finger portion of a glove. The exothermic insertincludes a sealed pouch formed of a non-permeable layer of materialdefining a cavity therein. The pouch is configured to conform to aposterior portion of a user's finger distal from a second knucklethereof and has an exothermic composition contained within the cavity. Aplurality of spaced apart holes are defined in the non-permeable layer.The pouch preferably has a rounded tip portion. More preferably, thepouch has a notch configured to permit movement of a user's finger aboutthe second knuckle.

In certain embodiments, the insert includes a finger element configuredto be received on a distal portion of the user's finger and an adhesivelayer secures the insert to a posterior portion of the finger element. Aremovable sealing film may be applied to cover the plurality of spacedapart holes.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a glove with thermalinserts.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the glove and thermal inserts.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the thermal inserts.

FIG. 3B a perspective view of an embodiment of toe warming thermalinsert.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a waterproof thermal insert.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sport glove andthermal insert.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the glove with thermal insert taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a detail section view of thermal insert.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention, shown packaged in anenvelope 24.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a glovewith thermal inserts.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a glovewith thermal inserts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an exothermicinsert for keeping the digits of an extremity, such as the fingertips ofa hand, warm. The article of the present invention warms cold fingersinside of a glove.

As seen in reference to the drawings, the present invention provides aglove liner that has a plurality of exothermic heat packs attached tothe posterior or backside of each fingertip and thumb. Aspects of thepresent invention may also find applicability to thermal footwear, suchas socks, to warm a user's toes. The exothermic heat packs utilized withthe present invention produce heat when exposed to air. The glove linerwith the activated heat packs may then placed inside of a conventionalglove or a mitten.

A device according to the present invention heats only the finger tipsor toe tips, is very thin, and transfers heat better. As seen inreference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a glove with thermal inserts 10 according tothe present invention includes a glove 12, and a plurality of pouchedthermal finger inserts, such as a finger pouch 14, a thumb pouch 16 anda pinky thermal pouch 18. The glove 12, or other extremity wear, such asa sock for footwear, provides an outer shell for receiving a pluralityof pouched thermal inserts for one or more digits 28 of the extremity.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 3A-3D, the thermal inserts may include anexothermic material 20 contained within a non-permeable layer ofmaterial 14, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or foil toform heat pack. Preferably the non-permeable layer 14 is comprised of aflexible or formable material. A plurality of spaced apart pin holes 22are defined in the non-permeable layer 14 so as to localize thedispersion of heat due to the exothermic reaction at locations conduciveto heating the fingers 28 or toes, collectively digits. As such, the pinholes 22 in the non-permeable membrane 14 develop a customized heatprofile and may be ergonomically designed specifically for the fingertips 28 (last two joints). The ergonomic design may include a notch 23formed in the insert distal from a tip portion 25 of the insert.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the non-permeable membrane 14 ofthe thermal insert may be filled with an exothermic material 20, such asa mixture of iron, millorganite, charcoal, salt and water, which issealed within the insert to prevent activation of the exothermicreaction. In some embodiments of the invention the heat pack may furtherinclude baffles positioned within the insert, the baffles may be made ofa high density foam material. The baffles, when included are used tomaintain a uniform thickness of the thermal insert 14.

As seen in reference to the drawings the thermal packet is defined by apouch that is shaped to have a rounded fingertip portion 25, a linearcentral portion, and a pair of extending flanges forming a V or U-shapednotch 23 at an interior portion opposite the fingertip portion 25. Thepouch 14 is filled with the exothermic powder 20 and trimmed to becomethe heart insert. A plurality of pinholes 22 are then strategicallyplaced in the heat insert.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the V or U-shaped notch 23 is dimensioned soas to permit the thermal packet 14, 16, 18 to wrap around the forwardportion of the user's digits 28. In a preferred embodiment the length ofthe pouch extends so that the apex of the notch is positioned proximalto the beginning of the second joint of the user's digit to permitflexing of the respective digit. The width of the pouch 14 isdimensioned to wrap around the posterior and the upper lateral aspectsof a user's finger 28.

As shown in FIG. 6, the thermal inserts 14 may be attached to thefingertip portions of an inner glove liner 13 with any suitableadhesive, such as a double sided tape. Inner liner 13 may be made of anysuitable material, such as nylon, cotton or the like. The inner liner13, with attached heat insert elements 14 may then be packaged in asealed envelope or wrapper 24, more preferably one that is vacuumpacked, so as to arrest the exothermic reaction. Alternatively, thepinholes 22 may be sealed with a removable tape layer so that the usercan open the pin holes 22 and activate the thermal inserts 14 beforeplacing the liner 13 or thermal inserts 14 into a glove or mitten.

In further reference to FIG. 6, the liner 13 with thermal inserts 14,16, 18, may be packaged and sealed as a unit within an air impermeableenvelope 24 that may be placed over the assembly and packaged with aseal 26 so as to preserve the exothermic reaction for later activationto warm the user's fingertips 28 when needed. The re-sealable envelopemay be vacuum sealed and contain an oxygen absorber and a moistureabsorber to preserve thermal insert life. The outer shell layer 12 maybe fabricated of nylon, cotton, wool, leather, or any material suitablefor a glove or footwear.

In yet other embodiments, such as shown in reference to FIGS. 7 and 8,the thermal insert 14 may be formed with a finger sleeve assembly 30having a fabric fingertip cover 32. The sleeve assembly 30 may be placedon one or more of a user's fingers 28 or digits and then inserted intoan outer glove 12. The insert 14 may be secured to an outer surface ofthe fingertip cover 32 via a suitable adhesive 27.

In use the assembly may be removed from the sealed package 24 and slidover the user's hand. The hand with the assembly may then be placed intoany glove, if not already provided with the assembly. As will beappreciated, the pinholes 22 in the thermal insert 14 release heat whenexposed to air. The placement of the holes 22 controls where and when heheat is released over the back of the finger 28 from approximately thenail to the second knuckle. Representative patterns for the pin holes 22as shown in reference to FIGS. 3A-3D. As seen in 3A, the length andwidth of the inserts 14, 16, and 18 are dimensioned for a user's fingers28. FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment for use as a footwear insert foruser's toes, having a shorter longitudinal dimension than that for thefingers. In FIG. 3C a waterproof insert has an outer layer 36 that isimpermeable to water. In FIG. 3D, the insert 38 is dimensioned forutilization in a sport glove. This embodiment will have a narrowerprofile due to the requirement for greater dexterity in the user'sfinger 28.

As explained above, the outer glove liner 13 is optional for most glovesbut it is desirable if placed into tight gloves. The compartments of thethermal inserts (whether sealed in or baffles are used) are not requiredfor all applications. The use of baffles or compartments may or may notbe necessary as they are primarily are used to maintain a uniformthickness of the thermal insert.

Additionally: This thin, directed and uniform heat insert technology canused in any application where heat is required only in a specific area.One such use could be on toes, ears, around eyes or any other part ofthe body.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermal insert for a glove, comprising: asealed pouch formed of a non-permeable layer of material defining acavity therein, the pouch having a notch formed at an end distal from arounded tip portion; an exothermic composition contained within thecavity; a plurality of spaced apart holes defined in the non-permeablelayer.
 2. The glove insert of claim 1, wherein the exothermiccomposition comprises: iron, millorganite, charcoal, salt and water. 3.The glove insert of claim 1, wherein the thermal insert is configured toconform to a posterior portion of a user's finger.
 4. The glove insertof claim 3, wherein an apex of the notch is defined at a point that isdistal to a second knuckle of the user's finger.
 5. The glove insert ofclaim 4, wherein the thermal insert has a width permitting the thermalinsert to conform to an upper lateral portion of the user's finger. 6.The thermal insert of claim 1, wherein the non-permeable layer is formedfrom a polyethylene terephthalate film.
 7. The thermal insert of claim5, further comprising: a glove insert having a plurality of fingerportions; and the thermal insert is applied to a posterior portion ofone or more of the plurality of finger portions.
 8. The thermal insertof claim 7, wherein the thermal insert is applied with an adhesive. 9.The thermal insert of claim 7, further comprising: a vacuum sealedenvelope formed of an air impermeable material and dimensioned toreceive the glove insert.
 10. The thermal insert of claim 9, wherein theenvelope further comprises: a sealing closure operable to selectivelyopen and close the envelope in a sealing engagement.
 11. The thermalinsert of claim 9, wherein the envelope further comprises: an oxygenabsorber and a moisture absorber.
 12. The thermal insert of claim 6,further comprising: a removable sealing film covering the plurality ofspaced apart holes.
 13. An exothermic insert configured to be receivedin a finger portion of a glove, comprising: a sealed pouch formed of anon-permeable layer of material defining a cavity therein, the pouchconfigured to conform to a posterior portion of a user's finger distalfrom a second knuckle thereof; an exothermic composition containedwithin the cavity; a plurality of spaced apart holes defined in thenon-permeable layer.
 14. The insert of claim 13, wherein the pouch has arounded tip portion.
 15. The insert of claim 14, wherein the pouch has anotch configured to permit movement of a user's finger about the secondknuckle.
 16. The insert of claim 13, further comprising: a fingerelement configured to be received on a distal portion of the user'sfinger; and an adhesive layer securing the insert to a posterior portionof the finger element.
 17. The insert of claim 13, further comprising: aremovable sealing film covering the plurality of spaced apart holes.